"I was very anxious about doing it, but my husband is so proud of me," Stella said.

Stella was among 15 contestants who competed at the second pageant, which was held at the Goebel Senior Center in Thousand Oaks. About 150 audience members clapped and cheered as the women, all age 60 or older, paraded in evening gowns, gave their 35-second "philosophy of life" summaries and showed off their talents.

Stella removed her reading glasses onstage as she strode across the stage during the evening gown competition, showing off her pink Peter Pan-collared blouse and floor-length brown skirt.

During the talent competition, Stella played "Farewell to the Piano" by Ludwig van Beethoven.

The majority of the contestants sang, two did drama presentations and fourth runner-up Marsha Herrera of Buena Park dressed in a Raggedy Ann costume and showed off her completed crochet work.

Wheeler, 63, performed her rendition of "Before the Parade Passes By," from the musical "Hello Dolly."

The winner, as well as the first and second runners-up, will compete in the Ms. Senior California pageant Aug. 14 in Carlsbad.

First runner-up was Judy Lamppu, 67, of Granada Hills. The only Ventura County resident to place in the top three was the second runner-up, Scarlett Liblick, 64, of Newbury Park.

Pageant judge Dave Grimm, a retired Navy officer who sits on the Thousand Oaks Council on Aging, said the decision was tough, and the women were all very prepared.

"In the end, it wasn't so much how she sold herself, but how she carried herself," he said.

Any 60-plus woman in California can compete in any of the six preliminary pageants held around the state from February through July, which is why several of the contestants in the Ms. Senior Conejo Valley pageant were not from Ventura County.

After Ms. Senior California is named in the August pageant, she will travel to Atlantic City, N.J., to compete in the Ms. Senior America pageant in October. The Senior America Pageant Program was founded in New Jersey in 1972. Contests in California began in 1986.

Marilyn Kohler of Laguna Hills took over leadership of the state pageant in 2000. Kohler, 81, stressed that the pageant is about recognizing the unique gifts of senior women.

"Every woman here has lived a life and they have something to say," she said.